From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the Dominican Republic, prostitution
itself is not illegal, but a third party may not derive financial
gain from prostitution (brothels or similar establishments are
illegal). [1] The
enforcement of the laws however is very lax.

The Dominican Republic has gained a reputation of being a major
destination for international sex tourism. Sex tourism is common,
especially in Las
Terrenas, Cabarete, Sosua, and Boca Chica[2]. Child prostitution is a problem,
particularly in major urban areas and popular tourist destinations,
and many tourists travel to the Dominican Republic to have sex with
children. The Government has initiated several programs to combat
the sexual exploitation of minors, including notices in airports
and targeted programs in popular tourist locations [3].

HIV prevalence in the country's
estimated 100,000 female sex workers ranges from 2.5% to 12.4%,
depending on the locale [4].